Unit+3+-+Jeffersonian+and+Jacksonian+Democracy

J+J Democracy, 1815 - 1844
[|Map] Katy's Stuff

Note: Things on the sheet "Cultural War on the Socioeconomic Front in the Early Republic" are here, their titles in... pink. Yes, pink. Because I feel like it.

Adams-Onis Treaty
- FL = Sp territory, but mostly occupied by runaway slaves/pirates/Seminole Indians -> raiding US plantations (to free families/get loot) - significant problem to plantation owners -> 1817 US army led by Andrew Jackson to fight them - "control FL better or give it to us" - Sp, not wanting to fight w/ US (+ knowing that FL would probably be annexed eventually anyways) -> cooperate - via Adams-Onis treaty, FL becomes US territory
 * US gets more land
 * shows foreign recognition of US power/ fear of US power

Agrarianism
See "Producerism"

Albany Regency
- Repub party faction led by Martin van Buren in NY - idea of, "get power first, then decide what to do" and "image over substance" - MVB not got the image, so he says to AJ, "let's team up!" - AJ does; 1828, AJ elected, campaign = nastiest ever (image over substance -> mud slinging) - use of newspapers, propaganda (US was most lit. country in world at the time)
 * revolutionized party system, created new theory of politics (support a party for the party's sake)

American System
- Natl. Repubs, led by Henry Clay, propose American system: - national bank (old one expired), Fed funding for internal improvement (ex. roads), high tariffs (brings in $, protects domestic industries; consumers dislike [more expensive], manufacturers like) - Democratic Repubs [led by AJ] dislike (tariffs = unnatural, favoring N manufacturers; fed. funding pointless when states should do it themselves)
 * Tariff of Abominations
 * Nullification

Anti-Masons
- Freemasons = secret society of emerging elites, tend to be anti-traditional (diestic, elitist...) - people mad, afraid of, dislike elitism, "smacks of tyranny"... entire "secret society" thing... Moral threat - 1st polit party = Anti-Masons - out of NY, part of anti-AJ coalition (b/c AJ was a Freemason)
 * first to use a MVB political technique of attacking a privileged group/institution that had used polit. influence to gain position/power

Barbary pirates
- 1800s, pirates in Med. Sea area [1785-1816] - were stealing goods, kidnapping + enslaving or ransoming sailors (over 100 taken) - Jefferson, early in term, refused to pay more tribute; instead built up navy and put it under control of young men (ex. Steven Dicator [sp?]) - not very effective, but doing //something// - managed to make peace w/ Tripoli, but paid tribute to other Barbary states until 1816 
 * Jefferson's first major foreign policy crisis [by 1800 1/5 of all federal reserves went to N. Africa as tribute]

Battle of Lake Erie
- Fall of 1813 - hastily built US ships vs. hastily build Br. ships - Led by Oliver Hazard Perry, defeat Br. - Br. actually surrenders - Captain Lawrence - "don't give up the ship" - dies in naval battle, body brought to shore @ MA for burial - refused b/c MA people were pro-Br.
 * Morale booster + ends Br. incursion in that area
 * shows disunity of US over this war, even over a legit war hero

Battle of New Orleans
- if Br. get it, key to west (Mississippi river) - 1814, after Br. beat France - can afford to send best officers, troops to US - US responds by sending the best, which... aren't really that great, but would have to do - send general Andrew Jackson (had won a few battles, but didn't have many troops) - @ NO get militia, free blacks, Fr. pirates, real squirrel hunters to join forces - dig trenches, prepared... - Jan 1815, Br. arrive ready to kick butt - was foggy, Br. in red coats... they advance, fog lifts, Br. notice they're right in the line of fire of trench works - Br. get butts whooped, Americans only lose 8 people - news sweeps country, but peace treaty (Treaty of Ghent) arrives saying that war was over 3 weeks ago on Christmas
 * news of victory before treaty, so Americans think victory-> treaty. Celebrations abound. Treaty only really b/c Br. were tired of fighting
 * people don't want to mess with the Americans, now fearful of the US b/c it could hold its own vs. the Brits
 * contributes to collapse of Fed party (see Hartford Convention)

Battle of Thames River
- after Battle of Lake Erie, US attempts to expand into Canada - too ambitious - fails, Br. set Indians loose on Americans to kill them - Tecumseh angered by Br. use of Indians, but later joins himself -> gets killed
 * US safe from Indians

Burning of Washington DC
- 1814; part of a three-pronged Br. attack on the US - navy goes to Chesapeake, MD militia runs, Br. go up to Washington DC and burn it down (but leave the patent office alone) - all the way to Baltimore, night battle -> lawyer writes a ditty
 * Star-spangled banner (I almost wrote that as star-strangled...)

__Chesapeake__
- biggest problem for Am. in early 1800s = "suck-up = muck-up" - June 1807 Br. have basically blockaded all Am. shipping - Am. responds by trying to build up navy - Norfolk, Va, building the warship Chesapeake - but it has no guns - Br. ship Leopard comes into port for R&R - Jenkin Ratford, ex-Br. navy man goes around harassing Commander of Leopard - Commander, pissed, finds out who Jenkins was + his new gig on the warship Chesapeake - Br. ship goes out, sails up to Chesapeake, demands to board; Am. refuse, Leopard fires at Chesapeake and Br. board the ship - impress Jenkins + 3 others (including one NA...) - Chesapeake gets back to port, Am. majorly pissed (humiliated), jefferson also real mad
 * leads to embargo at end of 1807

Classical Republicanism
- fits with decentralized colonial traditions and realities - related closely to radical Whig ideology and Protestant morality - civic virtue more important than individual opportunity and self-aggrandizement - individuals responsible for communal welfare; non-dependence (NOT independence) an absolute necessity; educated and informed participation in politics - representative government under mixed: constitution (elements of democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy); theory (checks and balances preclude possibility of anarchy,oligarchy, or tyranny); favors rotation in office to prevent potential corruption and incompetence of career politicians

Corrupt Bargain
- voting for new prez - btw John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, John Quincy Adams - AJ gets most votes but not 51+% -> voting goes to House of Representatives - HC supports JQA, JCC Supports AJ... HoR votes JQA as prez, HC appointed as Secretary of State - AJ goes around screaming "corrupt bargain!" for until next election

Dartmouth College Versus Woodward
- 1819, Dart has charter signed by King George III - controlled by Fed trustees - Repubs go to vote charter null b/c signed by a foreign emissary -> to Supreme court - rule that, "sharter = contract = inviable" by marshall - "cannot change board of trustees"
 * elevating power of Fed gov
 * charters + contracts inviable

Economic Liberalism
- from innovative Enlightenment work of Adam Smith; inspires merchants and manufacturers - holds that society functions best when artificial or traditional restrictions are removed - emphasis on individual freedom and choice (equality of opportunity) - sanctifies "laws" of nature (supply and demand) to encourage commercial mentalities - "survival of the fittest" law of nature followed - rejects mercantilism, government interference in economic and personal issues, etc. (unless it benefits them, e.g. tariffs, federal bailouts, etc.) - people are to rise and fall based on merit alone, not inherited privilege - rejects as unnatural the traditional morality of any sense of limits; economics enters the realm of the morally neutral

Embargo
- at end of 1807, Jefferson calls for embargo - makes it illegal for ships to leave port - Coastal + New England hate, everyone else likes - smuggling despite and and depression in seacoast areas b/c of the embargo
 * embargo creates a large divide btw areas of Am. (coast + NE vs. other areas)
 * creates a depression
 * leads to Macon's Bill #2
 * eventually works (Br. gives in), but by then too late

Floride Calhoun
- wife of JCC who shunned Peggy Eaton, wife of Secretary of War John Eaton - Peggy thought she was divorced, married Eaton -> finds out she wasn't divorced -> accused of polygamy
 * similar to the situation with AJ's wife

Force Bill
- says AJ could use force against the SC to enforce tariffs

Hartford Convention
- in Hartford, Conn. Feds (anti-war, pro-Br.) meet to discuss next actions - 1 idea is to secede - to leave the territory - not pay taxes, help war, leave union... - news of Traty of Ghent, victory at Battle of New Orleans -> makes them look like traitors
 * Federal party collapses - no on wants to be associated with them
 * ideas of Feds continue on despite party dissolution (nationalism, loose interpretation of Constitution, distrust of common folk...)
 * 1 place where Fed ideals persist = Supreme court (John Marshall)

Impressment
- Br. taking sailors suspected of fleeing the Br. navy off Am. boats - 10,000 or so impressed; direct impact on many people, families -

King Andrew
- belief that the prez must be strong, but AJ says, "elites are ruling now, but I'll expand the power of the prez for the common people!" - thinks that expanding power just for the meanwhile - and not working towards permanent things - will work - opponents accuse him of trying to get power for himself (tyranny) - call him "King Andrew"

Liberal Republicanism
- optimistic expectations of benefits of liberty; balances aspects of liberalism with republicanism - liberal contributions: freedom from unnatural restrictions, tradition, and governmental intervention, and a sense of cosmological limits - republican contributions: community well-being over individual aggrandizement within context of producerist morality - individualism: private virtue respectful of limits guides efforts to attain upward mobility - rejection of aristocracy, privilege, monopoly; celebration of self-made, entrepreneurial elites - confidence in ability of individuals to balance self-interest with communal welfare - who gets to participate is still very contested; what happens, according to producerist traditions, when one man's opportunity turns out to be another mans' exploitation?

Macon's Bill #2
- James Madison, successor to Jefferson, passes it in 1808 - says to Br. = Fr., "you quit bullying us, we trade with only you" - comes from position of weakness - everyone knows - it's a humiliating bill
 * Fr. say "sure!" but don't actuall stop, Br. says "screw you" -> continue impressing (10,000 impressed!)

Marbury vs. Madison
- 1800 – Last day in office, Adams appoints Federailist judges, including Marbury, by writing official papers until midnight (called the Midnight Papers) - Jefferson doesn’t want them as judges -> throws papers away - Marbury finds out -> sues Madison, the Secretary of State - Marshal, the extremely Federalist Chief Justice, does not side with his party, but instead says that the act Marbury is arguing about is unconstitutional
 * Though his side lost, Marshal cleverly sets up precedent of having the Supreme Court decide if something is unconstitutional
 * Though there was conflict, it was nonviolent -> represents peaceful transference of power

Maysville road veto
- 1810 Bill to secure Fed funding for a KT road to connect Lexington Kentucky to the Ohio River - KT is home to HC, AJ's worse rival; AJ vetoes bill - AJ state's rights advocate, so says that the state should pay for itself
 * last time AJ is consistent with his ideals/policies (?)

Missouri Compromise
- 1819 - Tallmadge Amendment (no more slaves into MO, slave-born children to be released at age 25) - Southern fears: anti-slavery -> danger to way of life - but NE not care about slavery, just the SPREAD of slavery (that plantation owners would take all the land) - compromise: Henry Clay, via series of bills -> MO slave state, ME free state, division of where slavery is allowed (36 30, see Map)
 * solves nothing, really - leaves the issue open for future conflicts...

**Monroe's Doctrine**
-> in both US and Europe interests to keep republics free from Eur rule (Europe wants free trade) -> British ambassador and John Adams meet and agree on doctrine, but Adams makes public as US declaration: Europe shall no longer colonize in W Hemisphere and US gov wont get involved in European affairs unless they affect the US (large loopholes for interpretation) - actually written by John Adams, but attributed to James Monroe, the president at the time
 * -**1823, there are 5 independent republics in South and Central Americas
 * secures US independence and helps the country begin to rise to power
 * becomes cornerstone of American foreign policy

Nullification
- John C. Calhoun creates principal of "nullification" in which a state can "nullify" a federal law until 3/4 of the state follows the law - SC holds it until 1832 passes Ordinance of Nullification - removed national tariffs under the grounds that they were unconstitutional - Jackson lowers tariffs; SC still keeps OoN - Jackson claims nullification null and void, pushes for Force Bill
 * led to split btw VP and prez -> JCC leaves position to go to Senate to argue for nullification
 * creation of Force Bill

Producerism
- involves farmers and artisans; when referring to farmers only, often called "agrarianism" - those who labor deserve a livable portion of the profits their work generates - productive work has existential meaningfulness (you are what you make, not what you buy) - work skills are a large part of self-identity (status, self-respect, etc.) - pride in mystery, mastery, and mutuality - gives one a stake in society (like property-owning) - emphasis on non-dependence, while recognition of mutuality is paramount - traditional economic morality more a sensibility than a system - one cannot benefit economically from another's misfortune or ignorance - occupies middle ground between parasitic luxury and dependent intolerance - cosmological limits (God is at center of universe, people aren't; notation of limits and "enough") - celebrates advancement with vague but operative restrictions (relative equality of condition)

Prophet's Town
- capital that Tecumseh set up - he felt it was necessary to have a central "base" of sorts for the Confederation he was creating - located near Tippicanoe river - Battle of Tippicanoe
 * blows it for Tecumseh
 * sets up William Henry Harrison for later fame in presidential election

Rush-Bagot Agreement
- 1817, btw the US (w/ Monroe as Prez) and the Br - demilitarizes the Great Lakes, est. 49th parallel as border btw US and Canada (but only up to Continental divide) - Oregon Territory claimed by both US and Br (shared; past Continental divide)
 * US gains territory

Sacajawea
-Following the Louisiana Purchase (1803) = US buys all land drained by rivers that flow into MS river, from France -> 1804 group of explorers set out led by Meriwether Louis and William Clark objectives: look for NW passage, collect material for science, reach ocean to establish American position on W coast ->spend winter in N Dakota -> find French interpretor and wife Sacajawea who join expedition group ->Sacajawea proves to be invaluable guide esp when they get near Rocky mts and she recognizes her homeland she was kidnapped from ->meet Shoshone tribe (Sacajawea's old tribe) and discover her brother to be cheif -> tribe aids journey esp by giving them horses to cross the Rocky mts ->expedition returns late 1805 -> Sacajawea dissappears

Tariff of Abominations
- tariff from American System - South finds it unfairly biased towards NE manufacturers - South Carolina brings up JCC's letter about nullification
 * by using the tariff as a focus, SC could avoid the subject of slavery while discussing state's rights and legislation
 * see Nullification

Tenkswatawa
- brother of Tecumseh - a nasty character - alcoholic and only had one eye (lost one in a fight) - one day, he stumbles upon a group of white people meeting for some religious reason and gains religious fervor - "we must return to our native religious way, then the great spirit will be please with us and help us drive the whites from our land" - uses eclipse to claim spiritual powers -> known as the Prophet - Tecumseh sets up a capital (Prophetstown) then sets out to organize mass-attack on whites - Tensk. gets uppity and says to the young Indians that if they obey him, the white men's bullets won't hurt them - keeps talking to the people in Prophetstown so that by Nov. 1811 many are convinced that the whites are stupid, incompetent, etc. - battle begins - Tecumseh stays in the town, knows better than to initiate attack, but Tensk. attacks -> loses - William Henry Harrison wins, burns PT, Prophet leaves in shame
 * provides the religious fervor for the political nationalism -> very strong
 * blows it for Tecumseh - coordinated attack didn't happen
 * Congress responds - esp. from states looking for WW expansion (cash crops wear soil out, need new land)
 * -> young ambitious War Hawks...

Treaty of Ghent
- no trade of territory, guilt, nothing - nothing changes
 * contributes to collapse of Fed. party (b/c they seem like traitors, see Hartford Convention)

War Hawks
- were young, ambitious land speculators (Included Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Andrew Jackson) - VS. the British, Indians who were blocking the West - whip up frenzy against Br. - impressment, aiding Indians, "our honor at stake!" -> Patriotic war fever - NE Feds not buying it - "BR. are friends + allies, we should be sucking up to them" - East = Feds, Br.; West = Repubs, Fr. - vote, 19-13 Senate, 79-49 in House -> to war - ship carrying notice of war to Br. meets Br. ship saying "your embargo worked, dammit, we'll leave you alone" - nevertheless, War Hawks want war (also b/c of Indians, possible expansion into Canada)
 * War of 1812
 * once war of 1812 starts, Battle of Thames river -> US loses but Tecumseh killed -> US safe (Indian Confederation falls apart)

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Katy's stuff - I kept it separate since it's not in the same format but still has the essence of many of the IDs

Jeffersonian Agrarianism: Yeoman farmers should rule the world (not slave owning plantation farmers). Or something. Small government focused on agrarian production, try to abolish the rising proto-aristocracy.

Louisiana Purchase: France, being stupid and still fighting Britain, needs money and so decides to sell off land in North America, including any land on the Mississippi or any of its. Bought by America (Jefferson), and extended country from the Treaty of Paris to the Rocky Mountains / Continental Divide. Questionable legal move, is president allowed to purchase land?

Marbury vs. Madison: The night before his term expired, Adams decided to fuck it and appoint a bunch of judges to keep the Federalist voice in government, including Marbury. However when Secretary of State John Marshall couldn’t deliver all the notifications by the end of Adam’s term, he assumed the next Secretary of State would do it. His successor James Madison, didn’t do it because Jefferson decided that the undelivered commissions were void. Marbury sued Madison for not delivering the commissions, but was decided against, setting the standard for judicial review of constitutionality.  Sacajawea: A Shoshone woman who aided Lewis and Clark on their expeditions of the northwestern US. Was married to a French trapper in Quebec, who was supposed to be the actual navigator on the trip, but he turned out to be worthless so she did all the work. Not much is known about her later life.

Impressment: British can take whoever the hell they want as part of their navy/army. Technically, can only be runaway British citizens, but can really be used against anyone.

Embargo: To stop accepting trade from a given country.

Chesapeake: One of the six frigates built under the Naval Act of 1784. Was puttering around in the bay sans guns when captured by the HMS Shannon after a British deserter was recognized by its captain. Pissed off Jefferson, leading to British trade embargo.

Tenskwatawa: Tecumseh’s brother, bullshit religious leader in Shawnee tribe. Left in charge at Prophetstown when Tecumseh went to go rally Indians, but decided to go and attack surrounding white towns. Got his ass handed to him, stripped of his powers, Prophetstown burned, ending Tecumseh’s crusade.

Prophetstown: Alternatively known as the Battle of Tippecanoe.

War Hawks: Any member of Congress who advocated waging war against Britain during the War of 1812. Included Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Andrew frickin’ Jackson.

Macon’s Bill #2: An attempt to stop British and French raids on American shipping, offering exclusive trading rights to whoever stopped shooting down American ships. Napoleon offered neutrality to American frigates, but Madison realized he was lying, and the parameters of the bill were never enforced.

Battle of Lake Eerie: Fall 1813, nine American naval ships successfully captured six British ships, thus ending the war in the Great Lakes region. Burning of Washington D.C.: 1814. Almost all public buildings, including White House, burned by British, led by Robert Ross and George Cockburn.

Battle of Thames River: 1813. American victory resulting in the death of Indian leader Tecumseh. Led by later president William Henry Harrison.

Battle of New Orleans: 1815, after peace had been signed but before news reached US. Greatest American victory ever, led by Andrew frickin’ Jackson. British, under Andrew Cochrane, came ashore under heavy mist, but when it lifted, they were a hundred yards from the Americans with rifles in their faces. British lost over 2,000 men, Americans only lost around 300.

Hartford Convention: 1815. New England so pissed off about embargo and War of 1812, consider secession from US. However, peace already signed, returning US and Britain to the status quo, leaving the Federalist party in disgrace.

Treaty of Ghent: Treaty ending the War of 1812. Nothing changed from before war.

Rush-Bagot Agreement: 1817, demilitarization of the Great Lakes.

Adams-Onis Treaty: Settles border dispute between US and Spain, presumably bringing Oregon in as territory, though Britain and Russia also claim.

Monroe Doctrine: Any further attempt towards American colonization would be seen as an act of aggression and the US would respond with force. Acknowledged legitimacy of existing Spanish colonies, and said that America would not interfere with European affairs.

Missouri Compromise: 1820, prohibited slavery above the 36th parallel, except within the proposed limits of Missouri.

John Woods: US representative from Ohio? Pensacola: City on the dividing line between Spanish Florida and American Louisiana Territory. Became part of the United States in 1819 with the Adams-Onis Treaty.

Dartmouth College vs. Woodward: New Hampshire tries to replace President and Board of Trustees with their own Federalist pawns, thud turning Dartmouth from a private into a public institution. Case argued by the great godlike Daniel Webster, and ruled for Dartmouth by John Marshall, reaffirming the sanctity of a contract.

American System: Mercantilist economic plan proposed by Henry Clay and the Whig party. Included high tariff to protect domestic business, matinence of high land prices to generate money for the government, preservation of the national bank to regulate currency, and construction of internal improvements such as roads and canals.

Albany Regency: First strong small political party in US, mostly political leaders from New York, led by Martin Van Buren. Later became Jacksonian democrats.

“King Andrew”: Titled used by anti-Jacksonians to refer to Andrew Jackson, referring to the fact that he had little regard for political rule and pretty much did whatever the hell he wanted, like a king.

Anti-Masons: Founded as a single-issue political third party against Masons, whom they saw as a destructive and aristocratic secret society. Later became part of Whig party.

Corrupt Bargain: Since there were three strong candidates in the 1824 election (Clay, Adams, Jackson,) no one was able to command a majority vote, so the election went to congress. Clay, as speaker, threw his influence to Adams, who won, and later appointed Clay as his Secretary of State, which was later referred to as ‘the corrupt bargain.’

Maysville Road Veto: The proposed Maysville Road would connect Lexington Kentucky to the Ohio River. Jackson vetoed, saying that since it was entirely internal within Kentucky, they could pay for it themselves. Tariff of Abominations: A tariff on imported and cheap British goods designed to protect the industrial northern economy. Aggravated southern plantation owners, who referred to it as the tariff of abominations.

Floride Calhoun: Wife of John C. Calhoun. Was involved in the vicious shunning of PeggyEaton, née Peggy O’Neil, wife of Secretary of War John Eaton. Peggy had been under the impression she was divorced when she married Eaton, and was accused of polygamy when discovered the divorce had never actually been filed. Highly reminiscent of the affairs revolving around Jackson’s wife.

Webster-Hayne Debate: Debate between Massachusetts senator Daniel Webster and South Carolina senator Robert Hayne regarding protectional tariffs. Webster argued that the government was of the people and answerable to the people.

Nullification: South Carolina passed the 1832 Ordinance of Nullification, which removed national tariffs under the grounds that they were unconstitutional. Led to split between vice president Calhoun and Jackson, where Calhoun resigned to join senate where he could more effectively argue for nullification. A reduced tariff was passed, but it was not until the Force bill that the Ordinance of Nullification was repealed.

Force Bill: A bill allowing Jackson to use force against the South Carolinians to enforce tariffs.

Nicholas Biddle: Presumably wrote the book versions of the diaries of Lewis and Clark, became prominent in Pennsylvania government, went on to become the second president of the national bank. When tried to renew charter for bank, vetoed by Jackson (perhaps because backed by Clay?), beginning the Bank War. Tried to cause a depression in 1834, helped lead to the panic of 1837.

Treaty of New Echota: Treaty signed between the Americans and the Cherokee Nation (the Ridges) saying that the Cherokee would move West, resulting in the Trail of Tears.

Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek: Treaty signed between Americans and Chocktaw nation exchanging land in Mississippi for land in Oklahoma if Indians liked Oklahoma. Even when they didn’t, though, the treaty was enforced and the Choctaw were forced to leave.

Specie Circular: Order signed by Andrew Jackson decreeing that land bought from the government had to be paid for in gold or silver, or money backed specifically by gold and silver.

Worcester vs. Georgia: Passed after Georgia plantation owners tried to remove Cherokee from prime farm land, Supreme Court holds that Cherokee were entitled to federal protection of state laws infringing their tribal rights, thus setting them up as a separate nation within the US.

Treaty of Payne’s Bridge: Gives Florida Seminoles three years to move west of the Mississippi.

Osceola: leader of a small band of warriors during the Seminole resistance. Taken captive, but died of malaria soon after.

Moses Austin: First white American to obtain permission to settle in Mexican Texas.

Alamo: An abandoned mission in San Antonio, held against Mexicans for three days by Americans including Davy Crockett. Though lost, became rallying cry of the Texas liberation movement.

Battle of San Jacinto: Decisive battle led by Sam Houston. 1400 Mexicans died or captured, while all but nine Americans lived. Santa Anna was captured in disgrace, and forced to sign the peace treaty that led to the liberation of Texas.

Manifest Destiny: A popular slogan used to idealize Americans “divine call” to expand west, a bastardized version of “city on a hill” with all the reward and none of the smiting. Panic of 1837: Banks issued all kinds of monopoly money, which, unbacked by specie, resulted in a giant speculative bubble that burst. Everyone tried to withdraw their money, but it turned out there was no money after all and everyone had been playing pretend for the last two decades, and the nation plunged into depression for the next five years with unemployment rates reaching 10%.

“Log Cabin and Hard Cider”: A phrase coined by the Democrats as an insult against Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison, which was then adopted by the Whigs as evidence of Harrison’s wonderful relation to the people, living in a cabin and drinking homemade cider instead of fancy whiskey. Which was total bullshit. But it worked, and Harrison was elected.

Liberty Party: Early advocate of abolition, one-issue third party in US.

John Tyler: Chosen as Harrison’s vice president thanks to his extreme-states-rights views, becomes president after Harrison dies. Annexes Texas as state into US.

“54 40 or Fight”: Slogan of expansionist democrats in 1840s, refers to line of latitude at the northern border of Oregon.